take root

idiomatic phrase

1

of a plant : to grow and develop roots : to become rooted

… damage to the ecosystem makes it easier for nonnative plants … to take root and crowd out native vegetation.

—Mary K. Miller

2

: to become fixed or established

… providing the steadiness and resolve needed to ensure that civilizations can take root and flourish.

—Greg Grandin

A monstrous suspicion had begun to take root in his mind.

—P. G. Wodehouse

Examples of take root in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Iran's reluctance to deal with Trump likely also takes root in his ordering the attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a Baghdad drone strike in January 2020. —Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 2025

Continuing a trend that’s taken root in Plainville and Farmington, South Windsor has approved plans for a 55-and-over development of single-family homes and duplexes. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2025

Rethinking Leadership via Middle Managers Unbeknownst to many senior leaders, the messy middle is the exact spot where true organizational transformation takes root or withers away. —Dan Pontefract, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

The effort to push back on Carr’s Trumpian agenda is beginning to take root, though with what degree of success remains unclear. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for take root

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute